Machine for sealing containers



Dec. 22, 1 925.

' 1,566,314 A. DANIELS.

MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed April 9. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 v a ATTORNEY 22. 1925- I A. DANIELS MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed April 9. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec; 22, 1925. 1,566,314

A. DANIELS MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS Filed April 9, 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 LIA Dec. 22, 1925.

A. DANIELS v MACHINE FOR SEALING CONTAINERS 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 9, 1924 Patented Dec. 22, 1925.

UNITED STATES- ATENT QFFIC'E.

ANTHONYDANIELS, or NEwARnmnw JERSEY,-ASSIGNOR TOTHE PERFEX PRODUCTS CORPORATION, a COREOBATION or NEW JERSEY.

MACHINE FOB SEALING 'CONTAINERS.

Application filed April 9, 1924. Serial No. 705,187.

citizen; of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, has invented certain new and-usefulImprovements in Machines for Sealing Containers, of which the-following is a specification;

This invention relates to in'iprovements in means for sealing Containers. More particularly, .it is directed to apparatus foreffecting a closure on the ends of flexible tube receptacles such as are in common use for holding fluid or plastic materials like dental cream, soap,' paints, medicinal preparations and the like.

Anobject of the invention is to provide a machine of the character described which shall operate to feed a metallic strip orribbon through the machine to form a clip therefor and to effect with said clip an 1111- proved positive closure for tubes of the character described ina simple and highly efiicient manner.

A further object is to provide an apparatus or mechanism,of the character de-' scribed which shall be adapted for use alike with tubes made of inelastic metallic alloys composed of lead, tin, and the like, as well as tubes made of celluloid compounds orthe likematerial, which are neither sufliciently plastic to stay folded when the sides of the tube are pressed together and the bottom edge folded in to form a seal, nor suitable to hold a clip over such seal by pressing same into the material of the tube.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described and of which the scope of application will be indicated in the follow"- ing claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the various possible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a plan view ofthe main portion of a clip forming and sealing apparatus embodying my invention with the plunger broken away to show he arrangement and means for feeding. forming and clinching the strip;

Fig. 2 isa fragmentary viewin front ,elevation of that shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is-a view in side elevation of that shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 1 is a sectional View taken on line 417 of Fig. 2 showing portions of the strip punching arrangement;

Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on line 55 of Fig. 1 showing portions of the strip feeding mechanism;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view in side elevation of a fragmentary portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 3 showing the clampingmeans in released position and the plunger finishing the folding operation to seal the tube end; I V

Fig. .7 is a sectional view taken on line 7--7 of Fig. 1 showing. portions of the clip forming means; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of that portion of the machine shown in Fig. 1 showing the arrangement of parts effective for feeding the'strip. 7

Referring .to the drawing, the embodi- 1116111101 the invention therein illustrated comprises a base-frame lOhavi'ng an upstanding portion 11, the upper righthand end thereof forming a front bearing 12 for a main drive-shaft 13, the rear"end thereof being supported in bearing llforined on the upper end of the upright member 15, which is rigidly mounted on or may be formed integral with frame 10. Shaft 13 may be driven by any, suitable source of power,' not shown, through well-known vmeans, as for example by a pulley 17 and a disconnecting clutch 18'1nounted on the rear end of said shaft.

A beveled gear 19 is fastened to shaft 13 and meshes with a similar'gear 20 secured on the upper end of a vertically extending driven-shaft '21 supported in a bearing 22 on the rear side of the upstanding portion 11of frame 13, as shown in Fig. 3. Another beveled gear L0 is rigidly mounted on'shaft 21 and meshes with a similar gear 41 secured to the end of a horizontal counter-shaft 42 supported in bearings 413 anddt projecting up from the base 10. (See Figs. 1 and 4.)

Rigidly mounted on the front free end of shaft 13 is a cam 23 which is effective on rotating of said shaft to slide a plunger meinber 2a vertically downward in a guide way out in said portion 11 'against the normal upward pressure of spring 25 Set between the under side of plunger 23 and base 10 as shown in Fig. Forwardly extending from the lower portion of plunger 23 is an elongated pressiire-head support 26 having a downwardly projecting pressure member 27 hinged on the lower side of the righthand end, and a groove 2'? may be formed on the bottom side of the latter. The hinged mounting of the pressure member, the purpose of which will hereinafter appear, permits a slight movement with respect to support 26 limited by a screw 50 which passes through the free rear end portion of meinber 27 and is threaded into support 26. A compression spring 51 may be provided between the support 26 and member 27 as an additional means for urging the latter to its downward position. (See Figs. 3 and 6.) A fixed supporting ledge 28 formed from a forwardly projecting portion of base 10 e2;- tends under support 26 and is cut away at 29 under pressure member 27, for insertion of the end portion of a tube 30 into a closure clip 31 held between groove 27 and a groove 28 in the outer portion of ledge 28. The clip 31 is preferably J or hooked shaped having legs 31 and 31" of unequal length, the former being the longer. Said clip 31 fits with its bent portion in groove 2? and the free end of leg 31 in groove 28 as shown in Fig. 3.

An outer clamping jaw of ejecting piece 32 is mounted and guided on ledge 28 for sliding movement and is operated through a linkage comprising a lever 23 pivoted at 3 1, connecting link 35 and a cam member 36 pivoted at 37 from the rear side of upright portion. Member 36 has a projection 36" on the side thereof which rides on cam 38 fast on counter shaft 12. Figs. 1. 2. 3, and 5 plainly show the means whereby the rotation of cam 38 on shaft 412 will cause the linkage to slide jaw 32 rearward. and coil springs 39 and 39 may furnish means for return movement.

An inner clamping jaw 15 may have a push bar 16 extending rearwardly thereof passing through upright portion 11 and may be urged rearwardly by tension spring 47, one end thereof being fastened to the free end of bar 16, and the other anchored to base 10. A pivoted bearing piece 47 is in terposed between bar 15 and a cam 48 rigidly mounted on shaft 21. Figs. 1 and 3 plainly show the means whereby the rotation of a cam 4-9 will cause jaw to slide forward spring 17 being effective to provide return movement. An adjusting screw 50 threaded into the end of piece 48 and bearing on the rear side of bar 46 may be provided for adjusting the jaw 15 in proper position.

The closure operation may now be described. Let it be assumed that the machine parts are in the position shown in 3. The end portion of a tube 30 with its sides pressed together is inserted up into the bend of clip 31. Drive shaft 13 through gears 19 and 20 will rotate shaft 21 with cam 19 and through gears 10 and 11 will also rotate counter shaft %2 with cam 3?. Cam as will force the inner clamping jaw -15 forward to lirmly clinch the end portion of tube 36 between legs 31 and 31f of clip 31. The outer jaw has a ti-shaped surface 32 against which leg 31 of clip 31 bears which causes the clip 3]. and the end portion of the tube 30 to be bent during the clinching operation to conform with the shape of the surface 32 as a result of the pressure exerted by the co-aeting surface 15 on inner jaw 15. Further rotation of shafts 31, 21 and 41-2 releases jaws 32 and 15 from the action of cams 37 and 19 respectively, and permits springs 39 and 39 to slide jaw 32 forward and spring 1? to slide bar 16 with jaw 15 rearwardly away from clip 31 and tube 26 which is meanwhile supported in grooves 2'? and 28.

The hinged mounting arrangement of pressure member 2'? hereinbefore described permits n'iovement of groove 27" to hold clip 31 during and after the above described bending operation thereof.

As soon as clamping jaws 32 and 15 have been moved from under pressure member 2?. the cam on shaft 13 is arranged to force plunger down to fold the clinched and bent portion of'ciip 31 and "he 'nd portion of tube 30 to form a seam as shown in Fig. 6. Further rotation of shafts 13, 21, and 12 releases plunger 19 from the action of cam 23 and permits the spring 25 to return the plunger 2st and pressure member 27 to their initial position as shown in Fig. 3. The upward movement of member 27 is fol lowed by a forward movement of jaw to its initial position thus ejecting the finished tube 30. The cut away portion 22 of ledge 28 may be shaped as shown in Fig. 3 to allow free p of the tube when ejected.

A new clip is now inserted in grooves 21* and 28 and the operation repeated. To automatically accomplish this the invention also provides means for automatically feeding a metallic strip or ribbon 51 through the machine for forming clip 31 from said strip 51 and for advancing the clip 31 into the grooves 2. and 28 to complete the closure on the end portion of the tube 30.

The feeding means may include an oscillating member 52 on which strip 51 is carried. and adjustably mounted on the left hand end thereof a cross head 53. A screw 54: permits longitudinal adjustment of the cross heat along member 52 and screw passing upwardly through a slotted 55 in the bottom of member 52 is threaded into a cross-head 53 for securely fastening same in=position.: A rod 56'-connects cross head- 53-witli.a crank disc 57 which is mounted to rotate with a shaft 58 supported in bearings .59 and 60 asshownin Fig. 1. A bevel gear- 61 on the-end of counter shaft 42 meshes with a similar :gear 62 for turning a shaft "58, and thereby supplying slide thereinand carries a follower piece. 67 rearward thereof'on which a-cam plate 9 i. -and screw means -69-as shown in Figs. 1, 0

means for oscillating' member 52. Shaft 12 also carries at about its mid-length a bevel gear 63 which. meshes with another gear 'tilg'the latter being mounted on .a short shaft journale-d in upright member 11. Shaft 65 has secured 'on-its forward end a cam66 forcontrolling .the feeding of strip 51 aswill be explainedu The left-hand portion of ledge 28 is grooved for member 52 to 63 is mounted for limited movement by slot and 8. Cam 66 is arran, e;ed to be engaged by projections 68*,-=an-d 68 on cam plate 52 by screws 74.

in'g of a die guiding ,plate.77 secured to ledge .28 ..in aligninent'ffwith punch. members 78 68 and the right hand end thereof c'o-operates' with a roller 7Q'for effecting the feeding of strip '51;

' Assumin-gthat the? position. of'the parts =of'the feeding means are as shown 'in -Fig.

1,- the roller 70, resting on the-'rearwardly I extending portion of the right hand endof plate 68,holds the spring '71 of feed-clamp 72 in compression and free from the edge of strip '51. .Onrotation of the shafts, member 52 is moved to the left carrying follower piece 67; cam plate '68, roller 70, and feed blamp 72 therewith; whi-lestrip 51 which is supported on member 52 remains relatively at rest. hen thestro'ke of'member to the. left is completed thecam 66.wil1 engage projection 68 ofc'am plate 6S'and slide the same with respect to .roller 70 so as torelease the clamp 72 for side-gripping stri'p51 between it and an adjustable. overlying: guide plate'73 fastened to, member (See Figs. 1, .5 ands.)

The next stroke of member 52, 'wl1ich is to the right'will carry the strip 51 therewith. In the co npletion of 'thisflatter movement, cam .66 will engage projection 68? and slide cam "plateQGS-back to its initial position as shown inFig. 1. Thisfeeding operation is continuously repeated during the operation of the machine and advances strip 51, the

lengthof one clip for eachmovement to the...right of member 52.

The clip. forming means; may. include a side-.edge notcher 75, and. a. severing ,and strapping. mechanlsm 76, the. former .conslstmounted on therleft hand end of pressure head. support .26,- and a die. 79 supported from edge;.28.in a slotted section. in member 52...as.shown in Fig. A. Notcher 7 5 serves to .cut, outspaced portions from strip .51 which latter forms desired rounded edges ing means."

on the clipi31. Mechanism ;7 6: (see Fig. 7) comprises :anouter clip shaping member 80 which preferably may be yieldinglymounted on the bottom; side of support- 26-between the. punch '78 and :pressure member- 27; and an inner sha ping member- 8 1 corresponding to member EEO-firmlya'sccured toledge Member 80$may have aspring pressed-rod lpassing therethrough :for "holding :thecstr-ip 52 against movement on -member= 81 while place as follows: lVithth'e parts positioned 'asshown in'Fig. 1 anda clip 31 held in grooves 27 and '28 between jaws 32 and 4:6 asshown in Fig. 3, the end-portion of a tube'31with its sides pressed 'together'is inserted up in the bend of'the olipand member 52 with clamp 72 is caused to move to the lefton the rotation of'the' drivingrshafts. C am- 4-9 on shaft 21 next becomes effecti-ve to drive jaw-46 forward for clamping-the tube end and clip togetherand bending'the clenched'portion, and their cam Lil a-11d cam '37 on shaft 12 -ac-t to withdraw jaws'32 and 46 respectively from under pressure member 27.5 Cam 23 on shaft '13 -by'this time is in position to force plunger 24 .downward and since punch 78 of notcher 75, shapingmember 80lo'f mechanism 76, 'and'pressure member 27* are all carried bj support-260 f plunger 2 1, the descending movement-of the latter results insimultaneously punching the edge portion of the-strip severing and forming the clip; and completing the closure operation-by folding the'bent portion of the tube end to form a-seam. A short interval .after plunger '2 1 ha's finished its working stroke to allow it to *bereturned to "its initial position. and thereby raise; pressure member 27 clear of the path 'of movement of jaw 32, cam 37. becomes effective to 'move jaw 32 rearward'ejecting the completed tube. In the meantime member 52 has traveled its entire return strokeIand-is moving to the rightwith clamp 72 gripping strip 51 as a result of'cia n'66 acting on projection 68* of ca m ,plat ei 68, as has been described above.

As strip 51 advances, it feeds the clip 31 formed'fin mechanism 76'into grooves 27* and 28 and positions the leading portion of the strip 51 for repeating thecycle of operation. a

Briefly the arrangement and combination df'p'arts are such that a metallic strip supplied to the machine is automatically fed therethrough, a clip formed thereby and said clip clamped over the end portion of a tube, bent and folded to form a seamed closure, the tube ejected, and another clip positioned in proper sequence for continuous operation.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. A machine for effecting a closure of a tube end comprising means for cutting and shaping a clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine co-operatively connected for continuous operation with means for clamping the clip over the tube end, and for in folding the clinched clip and tube end portions to form a seam.

2. A machine for effecting a closure of a tube end comprising means for cutting and shaping a clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine co-operatively connected for continuous operation with means for clamping the clip over the tube end, and for infolding the clinched clip and tube end portions to form a seam, parts of said clamping means serving to eject the tube after completing the closure.

3. A machine for effecting a closure of a tube end comprising means for cutting and shaping a clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine, and means for clamping the clip over the tube end, and for infolding the clinched clip and tube end portions to form a seam, portions of said clamping and infolding means serving to guide and posi tion the clips in the machine.

a. A machine for sealing a tube end with a clip comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to the tube end and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof, and means for folding the bent clinched portion to form a seam, said means comprising a plunger support and a hinged pressure-head mounted thereon to coact with a relatively fixed part of the machine for forming the said seam.

5; A machine for sealing a tube end with a clip comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to the tube end and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof, and means for folding the bent clinched portion to form a seam, said means comprising a plunger support and a hinged pressure-head mounted thereon to co-act with a relatively fixed part of the machine for forming the said seam, and means arranged to eject the tube after com pleting the closure by one of said movable members.

6. A machine for sealing a tube end with a clip comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to the tube end and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof, and means for folding the bent clinched portion to form a seam, said means comprising a plunger support and a hinged pressure-head mounted thereon to co-act with a relatively fixed part of the machine for forming the said seam, said head and said machine part having grooves therein for holding the clip in place for the sealing operation.

7. A machine for sealing a tube end With a clip comprising two movable members for clamping the clip to the tube end and for bending the clinched portion preparatory to folding thereof, and means for folding the bent clinched portion to form a seam, said means comprising a plunger support and a hinged pressure-head mounted thereon to coact with a relatively fixed part of the machine for forming the said seam, said head and said machine part having grooves therein for holding the clip in place for the sealing operation, means for cutting and shaping the clip from the leading end of a strip fed to the machine during the closure operation, and means for advancing the clip to the clamping and folding means in proper sequence and position for continuous operation.

8. A machine for effecting a closure on a tube end with a clip comprising means for clamping the clip over the tube end and for folding the clinched clip and tube end portion to form a seam, means for feeding a strip through the machine, means for cutting and shaping a clip from the leading end of the strip during the closure opera.- tion and means for advancing the clip to the clamping and folding means in sequence and position for continuous operation, said feeding means comprising an oscillating member over which the strip passes and a clamp ing means mounted on said member intermittently effective to secure the strip to the said member for movement therewith.

9. A machine for efiecting a closure on a tube end with a clip comprising means for clamping the clip over the tube end and for folding the clinched clip and tube end portion to form a seam, means for feed ing a strip through the machine, means for cutting and shaping a clip from the lead ing end of the strip during the closure operation and means for advancing the clip to the clamping and folding means in sequence and position for continuous operation, said feeding means comprising an oscillating member over which the strip passes and a clamping means mounted on said member intermittently effective to secure the strip to the said member for movement therewith, and means for controlling the movable machine elements to permit continuous operation.

10. A machine for sealing a tube end comprising a stamping and severing means for I? forming a substantially J-shaped clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine co-operatively connected for continuous operation with means for clamping the clip over the tube end and for infolding the clinched portions of the clip and tube end to form a seal, parts of said clamping means serving to eject the tube after completing the closure.

12. A machine for sealing a tube end 00111- prising a stamping and severing means for forming a substantially J-shaped clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine, and means for clamping the clip over the tube end and for making a fold in the clinched portion, said means comprising two movable members and a plunger support having a hinged pressure head mounted thereon to co-act with a relatively fixed part of the machine.

13. A machine for sealing a tube end comprising a stamping and severingmeans for forming a substantially J-shaped clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine, and means for clamping the clip over the tube end and for making a fold in the clinched portion, said means comprising two movable members and a plunger support having a hinged pressure head mounted thereon to co-act with a relatively fixed part of the machine, and means arranged to eject the tube after completing the closure by one of said movable members.

14:. A machine for sealing a tube end comprising a stamping and severing means for forming a substantially J-shaped clip from a metallic strip fed to the machine, and means for clamping the clip over the tube end and for making a fold in the clinched portion, said means comprising two movable members and a plunger support having a hinged pressure head mounted thereon to co-act with a relatively fixed part of the machine, the head and said machine part having grooves therein for holding the clip in place with the bend of the clip in the head groove and the free end of the longer side of the clip in the machine part groove.

15. In a machine .for sealing tube ends having means for forming a clip from a metallic strip, means for feeding the strip through the machine comprising an oscillating member over which the strip passes, and a clamping means mounted on said member intermittently efiective to secure the strip to the said member for feeding movement therewith.

16. A machine for sealing tube ends comprising means for feeding a metallic strip through the machine, a notcher for punch" ing the edge portions of the strip, a shaping and severing mechanism for forming a clip, means for efiecting a folded'closure with said clip and means for controlling the movable machine elements to permit continuous operation.

17. A method for effecting a closure on a tube end comprising the bending of a flat metallic strip transverse the length thereof to form a substantially J-shaped clip having legs of unequal length, pressing together the sides of the end portion of the tube to be closed, inserting the said end portion up into the bend of the clip and clamping the same between the legs thereof, and folding the clinched portion transverse the length of the clip substantially in line with the free end of the shorter leg so that the longer leg of said clip forms the outer sideand the shorter leg the inner fold of a closure seam for the tube end.-

18. A machine for effecting a closure of a tube end with a clip comprising means for clinching the clip to the tube end and for infolding the clinched tube end portion to form a seam, said means having co-operatively connecting for continuous operation therewith means for cutting and shaping the clips from a strip of material fed to the machine, all operating parts of the first mentioned means positioned to effect the complete closure operation while the tube is in a relatively fixed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

ANTHONY DANIELS. 

